Wednesday April 27, 2005

Danger On The Rails: What if railways transported chemical weapons?

By BOBBIE CURD
Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Garrard County doesn't have any railroads, but the possibility of a chemical accident is never far from the minds of local emergency officials.

That's because of the county's close proximity to the Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond where 2 percent of the nation's chemical stockpile is stored.

If the chemicals were transported, David East, spokesman for Garrard County Emergency Management, doesn't think much would change in local officials' activities other than increased preparedness and more organization with other groups.

"Local counties would immediately meet and start preparedness training with the Army and FEMA, and a plan would be tightly worked out. But no one wants it transported via rail, especially the city of Richmond, I can tell you that much," East said.

Garrard County Emergency Management is part of the federal CSEPP program, which stands for Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program. The portion of Garrard County that falls within the Blue Grass Army Depot protective action zone includes the communities of Buckeye, McCreary, Paint Lick and Cartersville.

Under an international treaty, ratified by the Senate in 1997, the weapons stockpiled at eight sites across the country must be destroyed by 2012. The Blue Grass Army Depot and the Pueblo Chemical Depot in Pueblo, Colo., are the only sites where disposal facilities have not already been constructed.

According to a Defense Department memo made public last week, the Pentagon plans to release at least $300 million to dispose of the stockpiles in Kentucky and Colorado.

Undersecretary of Defense Michael W. Wynne asked project managers at the two sites to develop budgets that will meet the goal of the international treaty deadline.

Even though the military said earlier this year it was studying other ways to destroy the weapons, including moving them to other facilities, Wynne asked project managers not to consider the possibility at this time.

The Defense Department has recently released $30 million for the design work and preliminary construction of the proposed chemical neutralization plant at the depot, allowing Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass, the contractor, to continue work through Sept. 30.

"It's very speculative to say anything about rail transportation at this point, or any route if it does get transported that way. The option is being looked at, but it's not a popular choice for civilians," said Dave Easter, public affairs officer for Blue Grass Army Depot.

"It could not be done under the cover of darkness, if that's what you're asking," Easter said.